We were very taken by the quiet, gentle nature of the Silvery langurs (Trachypithecus cristatus) at Bukit Melawati, overlooking Kuala Selangor Nature Park. We appreciated that the troupe was there because the of the ready supply of green bananas and bundles of yardlong beans being sold by the hawkers for the tourists to feed to them. The langurs obligingly ate the offerings all up with a quiet, solemn dignity.
The hawkers instructed people how to distribute the greens without causing spats. We wished they were perhaps given a little more training on safeguarding the langurs' well-being, that they might make sure people didn't attempt to stroke the langurs, especially their new born. Perhaps people would better self-regulate themselves if there were information boards explaining how human disease can be transferred to primate populations. Having said this the troupe seemed relaxed and well-fed.
Kuala Selangor Nature Park (KSNP) is a truly heartwarming good-news story. The site was proposed for development as a golf resort in 1987. The Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) stepped in and has since been managing it as a nature reserve which encompasses three important habitats a (man-made) brackish lake, mangroves and mudflats surrounded by secondary forest. The site is made accessible to all with a visitor centre, well-maintained paths, boardwalks and bird hides.
We only had time to take a short circular walk around the brackish lake system but saw many beautiful butterflies,a monitor lizard and a couple of Brahminy kites. We had come especially to see the phenomenally charming little critter that is the mudskipper- we'd only once previously seen them in Berlin Zoo. We watched in sheer delight as they skipped and skittered in the mud, posing and parrying in seemingly perpetual territorial friction.
The reserve is a 20km drive from KL and is well worth the visit. To top the trip off we indulged in an excellent fish dinner at a riverside restuarant in Kuala Selangor village where we watched the fishing rigs come in under the evening sun. A big thank you to B and family for treating us.
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